Five beauty myths debunked

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The internet is an absolute minefield of beauty and skincare advice. Though a great way to find out the latest trends and crazes, it can be a breeding ground for conflicting information.

Here, the scientists at Beauty by the Geeks put some of the most common beauty misconceptions under their microscope to help clear up the confusion...

Myth 1: “Chemical-Free” is safer

There is no such thing as “chemical-free”. Everything is made of chemicals. Whether or not a chemical is man-made or natural has no influence on how dangerous it is, nor does whether or not you can pronounce it. As always, it comes down to personal preference - but don’t buy “chemical-free” because of the scaremongering. It is not inherently safer or better.

Myth 2: Drinking water cures dry skin

Upping your fluid uptake beyond the needs of your body unfortunately won’t help your dry skin. Dry skin is most commonly attributed to increased water loss from your skin into the atmosphere and this can be due to a number of factors. A good moisturiser will do much more for your cosmetic woes than a bottle of Evian.

Myth 3: Shaving makes hair grow back thicker

There’s no evidence to suggest that hair grows back quicker after shaving. Saying that, the hair may actually appear thicker because when the hair is cut, it leaves a ‘blunt’ end. These blunt-ended hairs are more noticeable and may be felt more easily as stubble, so you are forgiven for thinking the hair is growing back thicker!

Myth 4: Only use “Hypoallergenic” products if you have sensitive skin

‘Hypo-’ means ‘less than’ so when used on beauty labels it suggests the product is less likely to cause a reaction. However, what qualifies as ‘hypoallergenic’ varies between brands and allergies vary from person to person. Instead of searching for hypoallergenic products, find out which ingredient is causing you to have a reaction, as this will save you a lot of time and money. If you’re wanting to try something new but are worried about sensitivity, ask for samples and patch test the product before investing.

Myth 5: “You need to use all the skincare products in the range for them to work effectively”

This is a common sales technique used by brands to encourage you to buy their whole range and not just a single item. We’ve never seen any evidence to support this - and we’ve looked into a lot of product ranges. If a product is as good as its claims, it should work as a stand-alone product.